Santo Domingo.- The authorities have uncovered a powerful gang of killers-for-hire at the service of organized crime in La Romana province, formed by criminals blamed for dozens of murders in the east region during several years.

They said the group is suspected in the death of dozens of traffickers in drug shakedowns, of being enforcers and of the elimination of witnesses, leading to unsolved cases and unpunished homicides.

Police and Justice Ministry investigators headed by La Romana prosecutor Jose Polanco determined that the group charged in dollars to murder the victims, who were first kidnapped, tortured, burned and their remains buried in cane fields.

As usual this report is a bit short on substance. So they have uncovered this group, have they been arrested, charged, are they in jail and if so will they be back on the streets in a few days as is normal here???

I would be interested in what Anthony from C Santa Rosa thinks .. I have been either living or teaching in la Romana for about a decade and the town has completely changed ,Firstly there are many new and dangerous and horrible and poor barrios in the north and western parts of la Romana which are too dangerous to visit at night and theer is much delinquency .Secondly I have not the slightest doubt that drugs are transiting in the la Romana area and that there are increased sales to people who can not afford them and when they do not pay they are rubbed out ..I can name at least 10 young men who have been killed..What can the police do ,,,some hired killers are discovered but there are many more to take their place.. The Fiscalaria has a dreadful reputation here in not seeking the big criminals and concentrating on minor offences ,,and with complete lack of justice ,The judges seem to be in the hands of el fiscal What do residents think ??

Rokiki,An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, both for me and I'll set you free. Temptations! Trankilo, Trujilo is the one running the gangs! You are doing fine in fantasy land! Keep hope alive a la Jesse Jackson! If you do not relax, chasing Trujilo gost all over Moca, you gonna fart your useless brain out of your arse!

My first thought reading the headline is that the article was referring to the PN. What kind of whistleblowing to the federal government made the local authorities suddenly speak out and say they knew about this gang?

I normally do not venture off into that region of the country unless it’s for a visit to Casa de Campo, but I have casually been acquainted with a sampling of people from La Romana and San Pedro and my overall impressions has not been exactly the best. Let me tell you something, in the DR there is nothing like a Cibaeno. I will not deny, the Cibao does have it shares of undesirables, but unless you actually leave and make a trip, mingle with people from that region, you will never realize, understand and notice the difference. All I can say and generally speaking, “son carne Puerco."(notice the capital P)